AGRICULTURE
Title: Strengthening Nutrition through Sustainable Food Value Chains
Date: January 07, 2023
In the heart of Uganda, a stark reality looms – over three million children and infants residing in central, northern, and southern regions grapple with the unmet need for wholesome diets. To uplift their well-being, families must find a way to bolster their income, enabling them to access more nutritious food options. The journey towards better dietary and nutritional outcomes is intricate, demanding a multi-faceted approach that celebrates dietary diversity and augments the nutritional value of the foods that form the backbone of many Ugandan households.
The beacon of hope guiding us on this path is intensified and mechanized agriculture. At the community level, it necessitates the establishment of robust value chains for nutritious foods and the enhancement of food market dynamics. Ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable areas witness an enrichment in the dietary offerings available to women and children is paramount. But it's not just about nourishment – it's about recognizing the crucial interplay between food systems and the ever-pressing issue of climate change.
What We Aim to Achieve Through IFOSOF:
1. Promotion of Nutritious Food Value Chains:
At IFOSOF, we've achieved remarkable strides by zeroing in on the entire spectrum of producing and marketing essential food commodities. Our vision is to fashion a sustainable food supply right from the source, thereby increasing the availability of food to undernourished families. This transformation doesn't just satiate hunger; it also nurtures better health and development, particularly among the children in our care. It's worth noting that the generous contributions from our donors pave the path toward creating a sustainable avenue for reducing the scourge of malnourishment among the communities under our protective wings. As we forge ahead, our aspiration is that this approach will ripple out to embrace other corners of our beloved Uganda. Together, we strive for a future where no child sleeps with the pangs of hunger.
IFOSOF PLANTAIN FARM IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE RAINY SEASON
We strongly support sustainable agriculture, which emphasizes farming and soil conservation as a means of producing wholesome food and fostering flourishing communities.
Cultivating Resilience on a Small Scale:
In the realm of small-scale agriculture, our dedicated team brings forth a blend of sustainable practices and time-tested Ugandan farming wisdom to nurture robust vegetable gardens. We've achieved this by empowering families, offering them the tools to cultivate food sources with an innate resilience against droughts, storms, and the unpredictable climate challenges that loom on the horizon. It's about making the most of the land, even when resources are scarce.
Throughout our program, IFOSOF takes the lead in providing comprehensive training. This includes immersive, hands-on agricultural lessons spanning bed-building, planting and transplanting techniques, in-season maintenance, adept pest and disease control, the fine art of seed preservation, composting, and a host of other indispensable skills. Our aim is to not just teach, but to fortify these communities with the knowledge and abilities that will make their gardens flourish and endure.
At IFOSOF, our Pursuit of Sustainable Well-being:
Here at IFOSOF, our commitment transcends immediate change; we're driven to elevate the long-term physical health of vulnerable families through methods that stand the test of time. Our monthly agricultural trainings serve as a beacon, championing regenerative farming practices that bolster soil quality, reduce erosion, and enhance water retention. The ripple effect is profound: these practices not only fortify the land but also expand access to a diverse range of foods.
Central to our mission are the IFOSOF Community Packages, thoughtfully tailored to cater to the unique needs of each household within our program. They're more than packages; they're the embodiment of essential knowledge, unwavering support, and a treasure trove of good agricultural practices. Nestled within are the seeds of transformation, both literal and figurative, from seeds and seedlings to fruit trees.
We place a premium on seeds with the power of regeneration, enabling families to sustain and nurture their thriving home gardens. Our IFOSOF Community Package isn't a one-size-fits-all approach; it's designed with choice in mind. We want these families to be architects of their own destiny, making informed decisions about which crops will flourish on their land, elevate their diets, and empower them economically in local food markets, as well as in markets specially created for their benefit. It's about equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to chart their own course towards a brighter, more secure future.
IFOSOF small-scale goat farm
On the Large scale front:
Our goal is to become an international organization that collaborates with key players to improve the lives of children in our community, as well as across Uganda and the world. In the long run, we hope to support other humanitarian organizations by providing food supplies.
To achieve this, we plan to construct a farm that focuses on nutritious food value chains, particularly for livestock, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. This will increase the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, which is crucial for reducing malnutrition and increasing dietary diversity. Reinforcing these food value chains will also fight poverty and create new job opportunities, especially for women who will see a significant change in their communities.
In areas where animal protein consumption is low, we aim to increase women's ability to access and afford livestock. This will improve nutrition outcomes, increase household income, and elevate women's social status. Research shows that providing children with nutrient-rich foods, such as eggs, improves their cognitive development and reduces stunting.
Furthermore, our goal is to produce staple farm foods with essential vitamins on a large scale to improve the health of the children in our care. We plan to have a well-equipped, mechanized farm that will grow each year to produce a stable food supply. As we expand to more regions, more children will be brought on board, and more lives will be saved.
As Harvard Senior Researcher Anna Herforth has written: “The most affordable diet is composed of [staple] crops, which have received the lion’s share of public investment over the last 50 years. Public investment works: where the money goes, innovations follow, and agricultural supply chains have shifted to produce more of these three crops.”
By investing in highly nutritious foods and improving supply chains, malnourished communities, including those of the urban poor, can benefit from a more diverse diet. This approach can also create jobs and stimulate local economies in numerous villages and communities.
2. Improve Food Safety. Food is not nutritious if it is not safe!
Did you know that foodborne illnesses cause over 600 million people to fall sick and result in 420,000 premature deaths, according to the World Health Organization? Shockingly, every one of these deaths is preventable. Unsafe food also costs low- and middle-income economies approximately $110 billion annually in lost productivity and medical expenses. To address this issue in Uganda, the government can support the improvement of existing food safety regulatory frameworks and quality standards, implement mutual accountability systems, enhance sanitary and phytosanitary systems, and coordinate with neighbouring regions. By working with IFOSOF to establish food supply chain surveillance mechanisms, we can strengthen food safety on a large scale. However, it's important to acknowledge that most of the funding for these efforts will come from IFOSOF and its donors.
3. Minimize Food Loss
Perishable commodities suffer from high losses in agricultural markets due to the lack of proper storage infrastructure and food preservation mechanisms. To address this issue, the INITIATIVE FOR SOURCED FEEDING plans to invest in infrastructure improvements that would reduce post-harvest losses and promote the extension of nutritious value chains beyond the IFOSOF farm.
INITIATIVE FOR SOURCED FEEDING Our goal is to develop new processing products that can extend the shelf life of nutritious foods and reduce nutrient losses. We are also working on innovative post-harvest storage technologies that can prevent contamination and further reduce nutrient losses. Our aim is to reduce food loss and waste by half, from 30% to 15% of all food produced, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals we are developing based on conditions in Uganda and data collected from various farmers on a large scale. Achieving this will go a long way towards reducing greenhouse gas production, increasing food supply, and alleviating localized production pressure on land and water resources.
If you would like to help, please contact:
info@ifosof.org
Written By:
INITIATIVE FOR SOURCED FEEDING
